Skip to main content

Raksha Bandhan - Making rakhis

I have always looked forward to Raksha Bandhan, every single year.  Maybe because the gifts are attractive.

Every year, we have been making simple rakhis, in huge amount, to be distributed out to the collective.  This year, I learned to make rakhi the Indian way.  It's really simple to do but takes more time than the simple string that we have been making year after year.


I used DMC embroidery threads that is from my abandoned cross stitch project.  Sorry, but I don't have the step-by-step method in pictures.

Materials:
Embroidery thread - normal colour
Embroidery thread - silver or gold
Fork
Glue gun
Beads / little flowers for decoration
A partner to help you (optional but better)

Method:
1. To make the centerpiece, first, take out 1 gold or silver embroidery thread and separate it from the main bundle.  The whole bundle consist of 6 threads.  Just take 1 out or the 6.

2. Take a fork and wrap the coloured embroidery thread (the full bundle with 6 threads) and 1 gold or silver thread that you have taken out in Step 1 around the top of the fork (the part where you pick up food with) many times, horizontally.  You need to make sure it is thick enough to make it fluffy.  Otherwise it would look scattered.

3. Cut the threads.  In between the fork's teeth, tie up the threads in the middle.  Make sure it is tight.  Remove from fork and cut the edges.  Make sure there is no close threads.

4.  Spread open the threads to make it into a circle.  And trim the edges to make it round.



5. To make the string, take 2 different colour thread and cut 2 piece each at the same length.  Make sure it is long enough to tie around the wrist.

6. Tie a knot at one end.  Separate the threads.  Up to you how you want the design to be.  You can take one colour while your partner take another colour of 2 piece of thread each.  Both of you pull it tight and hold the end.  And twist clockwise.

7.  Once it is tightly twisted, one person hold the knotted end, and another person hold the open end.  Make sure none of you let go or else you would have to repeat the whole thing again as it will get untwisted.

8.  Once both of you are ready, then the one holding the knotted end let go.  Now you will get a nicely twisted string.  Tie the knot at the other end to close it.  Your string is ready.

9. Use glue gun and stick some beads or flowers on the centerpiece.  Then use the glue gun to stick it on the string.  My mom was helping me with the glue gun and she didn't use that to stick the centerpiece to the string.  Instead, she just tied the string around the centerpiece.  That created a gap as you can see in the first picture.  Instead of a nice round centerpiece, you see 2 gaps.  Not very nice.

10.  Your rakhi is ready.

I know my instructions may not be so clear.  Next time I would post some pictures.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Matka pot treatment - Night 1

I started the matka pot treatment last night.  Been feeling a lot of left agnya catch lately, so thought that it is high time to do a matka pot treatment.  Here is what we need: 7 limes (I heard in Belgium, they used 7 lemons, so the pot that they used is so big and they have a hard time trying to dispose the pot after the 7 nights).  Cut the top of the limes to expose a bit of the flesh. 7 chillies.  Remove the top of the chillies (I don't know what you call, stem or stalk).  I used small chillies so that they can fit into the matka pot. 1 matka pot (here in Malaysia we used claypot that they cooked claypot rice, glazed inside so that it will not leak) Vibrated water So, you put everything into the pot and vibrate in front of Shri Mataji's photo.  Pray that the matka pot will absorb all the catches and negativities.  Then place it on the left side of the bed.  I put it under the bed but you can also put it on a side table on ...
7 comments
Read more

Information for pregnant Sahaja Yoginis

I have decided to gather all information for pregnant Sahaja Yoginis here.  This is probably not conclusive, so please feel free to add on if you have anymore inputs.  To read more about it, please go to amruta.org.   I guess the experience varies from individual to individual.  But I was very sensitive to vibrations and negativity when I was in my first trimester.  So much so that sometimes I have to do 2-3 times footsoak in a row in order to feel better.  But it gets better in the second trimester. As for havan, I was told that pregnant ladies can attend havan but have to sit far from the fire and don't sit too long.  This was advice by the Vashi doctors.  But my own experience, in which I attended one havan, I didn't feel good after that.  It's just my personal feelings about it as I was ultra-sensitive.  But I read some yoginis wrote that pregnant ladies should not attend havan altogether.  So, it really depends.  I ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sahaja Yogis Do's and Don'ts

The other day, while browsing through Amruta.org, I'd found this gem.  Sharing with you all.   Disclaimer:  As I only took out parts of the talk, please do read the entire text to get the full message and understanding or better still, listen or watch the video. Advice by Shri Mataji at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Question and Answers). Bombay (India), 22 March 1977 1. No smoking and drinking First and foremost things that a Sahaja Yogi cannot smoke or drink. One absolutely one hundred percent sure, because if you drink or smoke you will find after some time you either you’ll lose your vibrations or you’ll start vomiting. You cannot smoke. If you smoke your Vishudhdhi will be caught. If you drink your Nabhi chakra will be caught and whenever you’ll place your hand towards the photograph all the Nabhi chakra will be burning absolutely. So you’ll say, “What is this happening?” And you’ll give up. You sort of, many people have done it without any difficulty. They ...
Post a Comment
Read more